SB 113 (redistricting) is good example of Insider Fast Track
Ivan C. Potter, Publisher West Kentucky Journal Fast track bills are most often about raw power, money, or doing something bad to someone. Senate Bill 113 is an example of this thinking. The issue of taking US census data and redrawing Kentucky house and senate legislative district boundaries became one of the most confusing power plays of the last four years. A simple six month process has now taken all most four years to resolve. After several private groups suing the General Assembly and winning, the courts have mandated final resolution. But the drama still continues. Even after SB 113 becomes law and locks in the current boundaries, there is still a window for new law suits. Population figures seem to be off the mark for a House seat population. There may be a legal issue that House District No. 1 is not in good legal standing. If this ever proven to be the case, House Districts 2,3,4,5,6 would become off their population mark. One pulled thread in one small House district at the far end of the state could put in risk the entire legal base for Kentucky State Redistricting plan resulting out of the Special Session of October, 2013. All that is waiting is a successful legal challenge to splitting one precinct. AN ACT relating to elections and declaring an emergency. Feb 3-taken from Committee on Committees (S); 2nd reading; returned to Committee on Committees (S); to State & Local Government (S) Feb 4-reported favorably, to Rules; posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, February 4, 2014; 3rd reading, passed 38-0 Feb 5-received in House Feb 6-to Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs (H); taken from Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs (H); 1st reading; returned to Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs (H); posting waived Feb 7-reported favorably, 2nd reading, to Rules Feb 10-taken from Rules; placed in the Orders of the Day for Monday, February 10, 2014; 3rd reading, passed 92-0
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